Recoil adapter



May 14, 1957 K. w. MAlER 2,791,945

RECOIL ADAPTER 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 co -O :58:W- O O Q O O O O 9 un 9 Filed Nov. 6. 1953 INVENTOR. W Mui Er firroENEYS K. W. MAIER RECOIL. ADAPTER May 14,' 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1953 ATTOENEYS United States Patent O RECOIL ADAPTER Karl W. Maier, Torrance, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,765

3 Claims. (Cl. 89-198) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thcreon.

My invention relates to an electrically fired revolvertype automatic weapon and more particularly to the recoil adaptar for such a weapon.

The weapon ordinarily comprises a receiver with a recoil unit slidable therein, including a barrel, and a rotatable drurn provided with cartridge chambers and spaced peripheral index rollers.

An actuator slidable With respect to the recoil unit includes roller engagement grooves for battery position retention of a chamber in the firing position during discharge of the weapon, and a device for successively indexing the chambers to the firing position, between discharges.

The initial or battery position of the actuator is the position of engagement of members of a firing switch, respectively mounted on the recoil unit and the actuator, to close the switch and discharge the weapon. The corresponding initial position of the recoil unit is variable with respect to the receiver. The recoil unit and the actuator operate in successive real-Ward and forward strokes respectively responsive to recoil from the discharge, to gases from the discharge and to intermediate forces between the actuator and the recoil unit.

During the respective rearward strokes, the recoil unit transmits the force of recoil to the supporting trunnions of the weapon through a recoil spring and the actuator accelerates the drum. Dur ing the forward stroke of the recoil unit, the drum is gradually decelerated to rotationaI rest by contact of a drum roller with indexing curves of -the actuator, preparatory to retention of the roller in the battery position groove.

During the forward stroke, the recoil unit passes through a neutral position which is defined as, that position of the recoil unit with respect to the receiver in which the recoil Spring forces change in direction. In this position the recoil springs separate from their stops in the adapter housing.

As the recoil unit approaches the neutral position, the tolerances of the component parts of the weapon are taken up in the same direction since the direction of recoil Spring forces -on the recoil unit is constantly to the rear. After the recoil unit passes the neutral position, the recoil Spring force acts n the opposite direction causing impact wherever there is a Small clearance between adjacent components.

Obviously, then, the weapon would operate more accurately and smoothly if discharges were limited to occur *before the recoil unit arrived at the neutral position. To accomplish such an object, the recoil unit might be provided with a softer Spring to delay recoil. However such a Spring, of the type in presen-t use, Would be much too large for the space in the weapon presently available therefor.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple,

"ice

compact and efiicient device for transmittng recoil forces of an automatic revolver-type weapon to the supports thereof and for retarding operation of the recoil unit thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recoil adapter having a dampening device for retarding operation of the recoil unit of such a weapon.

Stili another object of my invention is to provide a weapon such as the one described with a friction device for slowing the action of the recoil unit.

A further object is to provide a concentric recoil unit for retarding a reciprocating linear device in both directions of operation thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a recoil adapter for attenuation of high instantaneous forces transmitted between the recoil unit and the receiver of a weapon and for heat dissipation of a portion of the recoil energy of the weapon.

Further aims and objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

In the weapon of my invention, recoil adapters mounted on the receiver include springs for transmitting the recoil force from the discharge of a cartridge to the receiver of the weapon. A rod Secured to the recoil unit extends through the center of the adapter and is constructed to transmit the recoil force between the cradle and the springs.

The rod is sheathed with brake lining and a brake including a tube or cylinder of wire mesh, having the ends thereof Secured in .a pair of brake collars, encloses -the cylinder. A Spring enclosing the tube is initially compressed forcing the collars apart to attenuate the tube and cause it to grip the rod, and a pair of stops provided on the adaptar are respectively engageable, by the collars to cause the brake to constantly oppose axial movement of the rod in either direction.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference is made to the foilowing description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a revolver-type auto matic weapon incorporating one embodiment of my in vention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section of the weapon shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a force-displacement diagram of the operation of the recoil unit;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the weapon with portions broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view along line 6-6 of A Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are exploded views of the spacers and the corresponding stops.

According to the drawing, a weapon 12 is provided with a receiver 14 including sides 16 and an end 18 substantially perpendicular to a flat base 20. Pairs of mounting trunnions 22 and 24 are perpendicularly Secured to sides 16. Trunnions 24 include an axis 26.

Weapon 12 is provided with a recoil unit slidable on receiver 14 including a barrel 28 provided with a bore axis 30 and Secured to a cradle 32. A drum 34 including cartridge chambers 36 is rotatably mounted on cradle 32 to convey chambers 36 successively to a firing 'position thereof, aligned with barrel 28, as shown in Fig. 1. Drum 34 includes radially mounted rotatable index rollers 38, and an actuator 40 is slidable on the recoil unit. A cylinder 42 of cradle 32 includes a slidable piston 44 having a plunger 46 Secured thereto.

Actuator 40 is biased into engagement with plunger 46 by springs 48 bearing against end 18.

When a cartridge 50 in the firing position Chamber is fired, gases from barrel 28 escape through passages 52 and 54 respectively in barrel 28 and receiver 14 and a tube 56 extending into cylinder 42 to slide piston 44, plunger 46, and actuator 40, rearwardly. Actuator 40 is provided with roller engagement grooves to rotate drum 34 and replace the spent cartridge chamber in the firing position with the succeeding chamber of the drum. The chambers of drum 34 are loaded by a feed mechanism 58 shown generally in Fig. 2.

A support 60 of receiver 14, enclosing barrel 28, includes a yoke 62 and a flange portion 64 spaced therefrom. Yoke 62 extends between trunnons 24 to transmit recoil forces thereto.

Recoil adapters 66 each include a casing 68 rigidly secured against a shoulder 69 in yoke 62 by a nut 70 threaded into fiange portion 64. Adapters 66 are disposed in parallel relation to bore axis 30. Casing 68 is provided with an inwardly projecting end flange 71.

A rod 72 includes an end 74 for attachment to cradle 32 by means of threads 75. Rod 72 extends through casing 68. The rod includes a section 76 having a diameter diminshed to form a shoulder 78, and provided with a threaded portion 80. A tube of braking material 82 enclosng section 76 is retained against shoulder 78 by a nut 84 engaging threaded portion 80. A pin 86 through threaded portion 80 secures the nut in place. A flange 88 is provided on the attachment end of rod 72.

Adapters 66 are provided with identical friction devices 89, each including a sleeve 90 of braided wire for enclosing brake tube 82. The sleeve is Secured at the respective ends thereof in collars 92 and 94, between mating surface's of inner and outer cylindrical members 95 and 96, as by soldering. A spring 98 enclosing sleeve 90 is initially compressed between collars 92 and 94 'to elongate sleeve 90 and decrease the diameter of the intermediate port'ion thereof for frictional contact with brake tube 82.

A subassembly is formed by respectively mounting a rear stop 100, a rear spacer 102, a recoil spring 104, a follower 106, a forward stop 108 and a forward spacer 110 upon the brake unit and securing 'them n position thereon by an adjusting nut 111 engaging stop 108 and threaded portion 80. Rear stop 100 includes spaced aXial slots 112 and rear spacer 102 includes corresponding prongs 114 for projecting through slots 11 2 to engage fiange 88. Forward stop 108 .includes spaced axal slots 116. Forward spacer 110 is constructed to engage forward collar 94 and is provided 'with prongs 118 corresponding to slots 116 of forward stop 108 for projecting therethrough.

The subassembly is mounted in casing 68 to form recoil adapter 66 with rear stop 100 engagng flange 71 by means of a mounting nut 120 engaging threaded portion 122 of casing 68, and stop 108. Spacer 110 engages nut 120 by means of prongs 118. A central opening 124 is provided through nut 120 to allow adjusting nut 111 to project therethrough.

A mnimum clearance of substantially inch n addition to the maximum Spread of collars 92 and 94 is provided between spacers 102 and 110 to allow freedom of acton of friction device 89.

Weapon 12 is provided with an electrical ignition device, not shown, to discharge cartridge S When actuator 40 reaches battery position.

Upon discharge of a cartridge in the firing position, nut 111 operates through forward stop 108 and follower 106 to compress recoil spring104 and transmt the recoil force to receiver 14. At the same time, fricton device 89 s carred rearwardly and collar 92 engages rear'stop 100 to brake the motion of rod 72. At the end of recoil, spring 104 operates through follower 106, stop 108 and nut 111 to force the recoil unit forwardly in a counter-recoil stroke. Friction device 89 is carried forwardly with the recoil unit to force spacer 110 into engagement with nut 120 and allow friction device 89 to brake rod 72. 'Momentum carries' the recoil 'unit through'the neutral position to compress recoil spring 104, forwardly. The cycle s completed as spring 104 expands rearwardly and friction device 89 is carried with rod 72 to again force collar 92 against rear stop 100.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the frictional forces between friction device 89 and brake tube 82 constantly oppo se the movement in either directon of the recoil unit with respect to receiver 14.

As shown in Fig. 3, the initial recoil force of spring 184 caused by the adjustment of nut 126 is indicated at point 126 and line 128 represents both the increase and decrease in force on the recoil unit in the rear-Ward stroke and forward strokes respectively if no friction device were provided. After a single discharge, the Value of the force would pass through zero to the initial counter-recoil force at point 130 and then successively increase and decre-.ase aiong counter-recoil force line 132, and as spring 104 brought the recoil unit to rest, force would return to the initial Value at 126.

The frictional force of friction unit 89 is Constant and with a frictional force resulting from the initial force compressing spring 98, the initial force on the recoil unit is increased to that of point 134 and force increases along line 136 in the rearward stroke. At the end of the rearward stroke, force suddenly decreases to that of point 138 as the frictonal force reverses drecton and subsequently continues to decrease along line 140 until the recoil unit reaches the neutral position represented by line 142 at which time force on the recoil unit abruptly reverses in direction to increase oppositely along the line 144 in a counter-recoil stroke.

At the end of counter-recoil the force on the recoil unit suddenly drops to point 146 and decreases along line 148 to the neutral position.

As it can be seen, values of brake 89 may be chosen to insure that actuator 40 arrives at battery position to cause successive discharges before the recoil unit arrives at the neutral position subsequent to each discharge except the last of a burst. After the final dscharge of a burst, the recoil unit necessarily travels forward of the neutral position.

The areas shown in the graph between lines 136, 140 and 144, 148, respectively, represent energy absorbed from the recoil member and transformed into heat. The brakes are designed with suicient heat capacity and sufficient surface, adequately to transfer the generated heat to the atmosphere.

The device described above contributes to the accuracy of the Weapon by restricting the discharge of the Weapon to the periods When the tolerances of the component parts are uniformly taken up, except for the last discharge of each burst. Also, the maximum instantaneous forces applied to the trunnions, are substantially reduced as a result of smoothing' efiect of the Constant friction force.

The device is simple because 'it is a combination of a few non-critical parts and because it can easily be disassembled into successive subassemblies; it is Compact because it requires no more space in the Weapon than the present device; and it is efiective because no strength of the parts is sacrificed by its inclusion in the Weapon.

Although a particular embodment of the invention has been 'described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the Spirit -and Scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

l. In a Weapon having a receiver unit and a recoil unit axially slidable thereon, arecoiladapter comprising a device for frictional engagement with one of the units and a spring disposed for engagement between said frictional device and the other of the units for equal opposition to the opposite relative movements therebetween.

2. In a Weapon having a receiver unit, and a recoil unit slidable thereon, a recoil adapter comprisng a recoil spring dsposed between the units "for trans'mittng 'forces therebetween, a rod Secured to one of the units, a pair of steps spaced on the other of the units, and a friction device including a sleeve of braided wire, a pai: of coilars, and a Spring enciosing said red, said sieeve being Secured between said collars, said Spring being initiaily cempressed beLween said coilars to attenuate said sieeve for frictienai engagement thereof With said red, and said coliars being respectively engageable by said stops to oppose relative movement of the units.

3. In a weapcn having a i'eceiver, and a recoii Unit disposed for recproca] movement With 'Lheren and pmvided With an axial md, recei adapter cmprising a hcusing Secured to the receiver to encase the rod, a Spring dispcsed in said hcusing for transmittiiig recoil forces between the recoil unit and the receiver, and a frieion device including a tube of braking material in bsnded reiation with the red, a pair of spaced collers encising said tube, a braided wii'e sieeve Secured between said coilars, and

6 a Spring initially compressed between said coliars to attenuate said sleeve for frietional engagement thereof With said tube, said frictien device being dispesed for engagement with said housing to equaiy eppose the reciprocal movement in the opposing directions theme-f.

Referencias Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,326 Browning Feb. 13, 1906 l.,896,454 Marek Feb. 7, 1933 2,229,30 Roemer ian. 21, 1941 2,434,358 Frank Jan. 13, 1948 456,652 Simpson Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 894,124 France Mar. 6, 1944 

